Empty your cup: A story - From empty mind to authentic intentions.

Photo: https://www.cleanpng.com/png-teapot-teacup-tea-party-continental-tea-410683/download-png.html

The story goes like this:

There was a Zen monk in Japan over 150 years ago.
He was well know for his teaching and instructions
on Zen Buddhist way of life and practices.

A professor in a nearby university heard about the
monk and decided to enquire about Zen practices.
He went to see the monk. The monk made some tea.
He started to pour tea in the the professor's cup.

When the tea cup was full, the monk continued to pour
the tea. The tea was overflowing and began to spill on
the table. The monk stopped pouring the tea. He looked
at the professor and said, 'You are not ready to learn and to
practice Zen Buddhism. You have many opinions
about Zen. Go empty your cup and then come back.'

The moral of the story:

If you want to do something, empty your mind,
go within, then declare your intentions with clarity.
Then start working and get the results you want.

Our inner world of our essence or consciousness
becomes so authentic that we will not worry about
superficial things in the outer world. Because we
'know' what to do!
                                ==========
“Hell, in my opinion, is never finding your true self and never living your own life or knowing who you are.”
― John Bradshaw

“The moment you become aware of the ego in you, it is strictly speaking no longer the ego, but just an old, conditioned mind-pattern. Ego implies unawareness. Awareness and ego cannot coexist.”
― Eckhart Tolle


(c) Harish Davda 2020
Enneagram Coaching and Conscious Business Consulting.
harish.davda@gmail.com
Instagram: @harish.davda

Looking Vs Observing

Photo (c) Harish Davda

(c) Harish Davda

Photo (c) Harish Davda

People often believe that looking is same as observing. It isn't.
When we look at something, a river, a mountain, people, etc,
we are coming from our egoic mind or ego with judgements,
assumptions, ideas, thoughts, interpretations and much more.

When we observe, without engaging our mind and thoughts,
we are coming from our being, essence or consciousness.
We are in the present, in the now, and feeling the presence of what
we are observing. And we are in our presence.

Decisions based on what we see may not be complete. Often we have
a vested interest, the ego is calling all the shots, for a personal gain,
even if it is to 'show off' or communicating how clever we are.
It is not a good way to connect with other people. They will sense our
ulterior motive designed by the ego.

There is nothing wrong about the mind. We have to decide
when is a good time to engage it. It is brilliant at solving problems.
At the same time, it is brilliant at creating problems.
For example, when we take a position about something
to prove others wrong or act in anger to cause suffering
for self and others.

Observing when in a relationship helps to create a bond.
We then create a deeper relationship. Perhaps become soul mates!
Observing when at work stops 'ego games' and waste of time.
The real contribution from our authenticity can then be possible,
to create an environment of peace, love and growing together.

(c) Harish Davda 2020
harish.davda@gmail.com
Instagram @harish.davda

Life in isolation

Photo (c) Harish Davda

Photo (c) Harish Davda

Photo (c) Harish Davda

Life in isolation: At one level,
it appears a life of luxury.

No disturbance from the routine,

no one comes to your door to disturb.

You can sleep as long as you want,

and watch news on TV until you are
overloaded with information,
misinformation and disinformation.

You feel tired, and lose focus.

At another level, lack of routine,

takes away the purpose...daily, weekly,

monthly, yearly and long term.

You can feel lost, unmotivated, anxious,
even depressed...your freedom is gone.

You visualise life beyond Coronavirus,

of misery, poverty, struggle and effort.

Fear is working its way to your unhappiness.

My answer to isolation: To accept what's
happening, then surrender.

Have trust in human species; we are strong and
capable of overcoming anything.
We are designed to fight illness.

Keep a healthy routine...exercise, eat well.

meditate few times, everyday.

Pray for yourself and other people.

Reach out to those who need help.

Think of creative ideas, put them into practice,
to keep the mind and brain healthy,
and help the immune system to remain strong.
Coronavirus will pass. Nothing is permanent!

How are you coping with isolation?
Drop me a line.

                                  ===

"It is not impermanence which make us suffer.
What makes us suffer is wanting things to
be permanent, when they are not."
                        
- Thich Nhat Hanh
                                ===
(c) Harish Davda 2020

harish.davda@gmail.com
Instagram: @harish.davda

What is Covid 19 teaching us?

Photo: Harish Davda

Photo: Harish Davda

Photo: Harish Davda

If we can send a man to the moon,

and create miracles in science, arts,

engineering and medicine...surely,

we can prepare better for future viruses,

make sure that people do not go hungry

anywhere in the world... and everyone has

access to descent housing, water, health care and

education.

What Covid-19 is teaching us is to 'awaken'

ourselves, to reveal who we truly are, get

deep into our essence, become

selfless and reach out to those in need at

local, national and global level...because

we are all one!

Once we awaken, we will begin to change 

our broken economic, business, political

and financial systems for the benefit

of all. Not just for 1% of people who control

a high percentage of world's net wealth!

(c) Harish Davda 2020 - harish.davda@gmail.com

"If you want to change the world, you start with yourself."

- Mahatma Gandhi

Some statistics (before Covid 19 hit the world)

The world’s richest 1 percent, those with more than $1 million, own 44 percent of the world’s wealth. Their data also shows that adults with less than $10,000 in wealth make up 56.6 percent of the world’s population but hold less than 2 percent of global wealth.

Source: https://inequality.org/facts/global-inequality/#global-wealth-inequality

Of the 822 million undernourished people in the world, 113 million face acute hunger meaning they are in urgent need of food and nutrients.

Source: https://www.theworldcounts.com/

Approximately 3.1 million children die from undernutrition each year (UNICEF, 2018a). Hunger and undernutrition contribute to more than half of global child deaths, as undernutrition can make children more vulnerable to illness and exacerbate disease (UNICEF, 2018a).

“For the world’s hungry and undernourished people, climate change is an increasingly relevant threat multiplier”.

- Global Hunger Index.

My power: affirmations for 7 energy centres

Image: (c) Harish Davda 2020.

The following words are based on the 7 chakras or energy points which we all have in our body and are influenced by them. The 7th chakra is above our head and does not occupy the body.

(1 - Base chakra)
My strength come from the wisdom

And will of my ancestors

Who not only nurtured me

But also prepared me for my life

With their love and blessings.

(2 - Sacral chakra)

My strength comes from my survival instinct

And will to stand on my feet

To be creative, to produce

To be responsible

And protect myself and my family.

(3 - Solar Plexis chakra)

My strength comes from being wilful,

To be strong, courageous

And contribute to the world

Based on what I have learnt

And leave a lasting legacy.

(4- Heart chakra)

My strength comes from my heart

I care, I'm compassionate,

I'm learning to give unconditionally,

At the same time, my heart is intelligent

And helps me to listen to my inner being.

( 5 - The throat chakra)

My strength comes from my voice,

I speak with authority and authenticity

I listen attentively and without judgement

I see with my eyes and my ears

And respond purposefully.

 (6 - The third eye chakra)

My strength comes from my wisdom

Collected from this life and many more

Which let's me experience things

Beyond my mind and feelings

To bring harmony in what I do.

(7 - Crown chakra)

Finally, my strength comes from a source

Outside of this world, and universe.

I have a feeling, and I know

Why I'm here, where I'm going

And what I need to do.

Meditating on the seven energy points/chakras and using the above affirmation for each chakra is a good way of attaining strength and balance in our body and beyond.

(c) Harish Davda 2020

Instagram: @harish.davda

harish.davda@gmail.com

Power of discomfort

The first reaction to discomfort

is to run away from it, to feel safe.

Often, there is no safer place

than where you are now. Stay put. Observe.

Experience your power within.

If you recognise a pattern of over-eating,

observe yourself, see the effects on yourself.

Identify healthy choices. Take action gently

to become healthier, however discomforting.

Enjoy the results. Experience your power.

If you experience difficulties in a relationship,

at work, in business, with friends and family,

look beyond your conditioning.

Identify causes. Take a decision. Act.

Feel your discomfort. Experience your power.

Real power is what you do with yourself,

How you grow and change to who you really are.

People around you will then change

or leave you alone 'cause they are not ready.

Be the change. Experience your power.

Experiencing discomfort takes you deeper

into your inner self.  To connect to your essence.

Beyond the automaton-like behaviour.

That is where real freedom, liberation, is.

Buddha knew this. He experienced his power.

Finally, feel the fear, experience the discomfort,
Prepare, plan, take calculated risks.
Feel your adrenalin, do it. Experience your power,
For greater things to come in future...

The video above is a good example of how Simon and his friend Dave successfully completed their adventure and gained power from their fear and discomfort.

Video credit: Simon Riddell, Photographer.
www.simonriddell.co.uk




(c) Harish Davda 2020

harish.davda@gmail.com

Observe...and grow!

This blog is not about Gautama Buddha or amazing views on Isle of sky  It is about observing, learning and growing.

In my long career as Management Development Trainer and Coach, I have always been interested in how people grow and create greater happiness for themselves and other people.

We all have habits, some of which we have formed for a long time. Some habits, eg, being tidy and organised, work for us. Other habits may be working against us...it can cause difficulties in our relationship with other people, it can even ruin our career or stop us in recognising new opportunities. 

So, what about observing ourselves? In your behaviour, begin to observe yourself. For example:

- do you get angry easily?

- are you controlling?

- do you listen to other people?

- do you talk too much?

- are you always competitive?
- do you aimlessly do things to get a buzz?

The next step is to observe what effect you are having on other people, and

yourself.

When you see and understand this, you will be motivated to change some of the behaviour which is dysfunctional. You will then begin to change your behaviour by changing your habits. For example, by listening more to other people, your relationship with other people will improve. You may even advance your career and get paid what you deserve.

It's amazing how your life changes when you change. You may access your 'inner world' beyond your ego. More on this in a new blog soon!

As Gandhi said,

Be the change you want to see in this world.

And, as Socrates said,

The secret of change is to focus all of your energy,
not on fighting the old but on building the new.

(c) Harish davda 2020

harish.davda@gmail.com
Instagram: @harish.davda